Dette er grunnlaget.

to be

Breakdown of Dette er grunnlaget.

• dette: this
• grunnlaget: the basis; foundation

Questions & Answers about Dette er grunnlaget.

Why is it dette and not det here?

Dette means this, while det usually means that or it.

So:

• Dette er grunnlaget = This is the foundation / basis
• Det er grunnlaget can mean That is the foundation or sometimes It is the foundation, depending on context

A useful rule:

• dette = this
• det = that / it

In everyday spoken Norwegian, some speakers may use det in places where written Norwegian prefers dette, but for learners, dette is the clear standard form for this.

What does grunnlaget mean exactly?

Grunnlaget is the definite form of grunnlag.

• et grunnlag = a foundation / a basis
• grunnlaget = the foundation / the basis

It can be used both literally and figuratively, but very often it means basis, foundation, or underlying basis in an abstract sense, such as in arguments, decisions, or systems.

Why is there no separate word for the before grunnlaget?